Spring Break 2027 falls March 15 to 19 for virtually every Austin-area school district. That includes Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, Lake Travis ISD, and UT Austin. The whole city takes the same week off. That makes spring break in Austin genuinely extraordinary. The weather is perfect in mid-March. The wildflowers are starting to bloom across the Hill Country. Barton Springs is at its most beautiful. Lake Travis is warming up for the season. And the outdoor adventures are as good as they get before the summer heat arrives. This is your complete guide to the best things to do in Austin for Spring Break 2027.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin for Spring Break 2027
The best things to do in Austin for Spring Break 2027 include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, Barton Springs Pool, the Barton Creek Greenbelt, Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown, the Thinkery children’s museum, Pease Park Treehouse, the Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Natural Bridge Caverns day trip, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, the Bob Bullock IMAX, a Hill Country wildflower road trip, the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony, Pioneer Farms, Sweet Eats Fruit Farm, and a South Congress Avenue afternoon.
Why Austin Is the Best Spring Break Destination in Texas
Austin is genuinely one of the best places in the entire country to spend spring break. The weather in mid-March is perfect, with highs in the mid-70s and cool evenings. The Hill Country wildflowers are starting to bloom. Barton Springs is at its most beautiful and least crowded before summer arrives. Lake Travis is warming up for the season. And the city delivers a combination of outdoor adventures, world-class museums, live music, and genuinely family-friendly activities that no other Texas city quite matches.
After 30 years in Austin, spring break is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year in this city. Everything feels alive again after a quiet February. The parks are full of families. The outdoor spaces are at their most beautiful. And the adventure season is just getting started.
Start with number one. Everything else builds around it.
#1 Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — Best Spring Break Adventure in Austin
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best spring break activity in Austin for families, groups, and anyone who wants the most genuinely extraordinary outdoor experience the city offers as the new season opens.
March on Lake Travis is genuinely beautiful. The Hill Country is starting to green up after winter. The wildflowers are beginning to bloom on the limestone ridges around the lake. The air is cool and comfortable at altitude. And the view from 22 stories above Lake Travis on a clear March afternoon is one of the most spectacular outdoor moments the entire Austin spring produces.
As someone who has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, I can tell you that spring break groups are some of our most joyful guests of the entire year. Families who have been cooped up all winter arrive at the lake and immediately feel the season shift. Kids who were nervous on the platform land grinning. Parents who thought they were just there to watch end up as the most enthusiastic zippers on the tour.
Here is how it works. Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Then you spend three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country. The Double Barrel Shotgun sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet of cable at up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. After the tour your ticket includes full-day access to the lakefront property on Zip Island. Swim off the dock. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy the first genuine outdoor adventure of the spring season before heading back to Austin.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: includes full-day lakefront access after the tour
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: includes full-day lakefront access after the tour
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Best For: Families of all sizes, all experience levels, the best spring break adventure in Austin
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Spring break is one of the busiest weeks of the entire year on Lake Travis. Afternoon slots sell out weeks in advance. Book your spring break afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before March dates sell out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the best spring break adventure in Austin.
#2 Barton Springs Pool — Most Essential Spring Break Activity
Barton Springs Pool is the most genuinely Austin spring break experience available and the one that families who visit Austin for the first time consistently describe as the most unexpectedly perfect part of their trip.
The pool stays at 68 degrees year round. In mid-March that means the air temperature is cool but the water is genuinely refreshing. The surrounding Zilker Park landscape is starting its spring green-up. The pecan trees along the banks are budding. And the crowds have not yet reached the full summer peak that makes July and August at Barton Springs a very different experience.
Entry is under $10 for adults and free before 8 AM. A Barton Springs morning on spring break is genuinely one of the most beautiful outdoor experiences in all of Austin.
The Details
- Address: 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: Under $10 for adults, free before 8 AM
- Best For: Every family on spring break in Austin. This is mandatory.
- Pro Tip: Arrive before 10 AM for the most peaceful experience. Bring a blanket for the grassy banks after your swim.
#3 Barton Creek Greenbelt — Best Spring Break Hike in Austin
The Barton Creek Greenbelt in mid-March is genuinely one of the most beautiful versions of Austin’s most beloved trail system. The limestone canyon walls are lush and green after the winter rains. The creek is flowing. The swimming holes at Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls are accessible. And the cool spring air makes the hike genuinely comfortable in a way that July hiking in Austin simply is not.
The Greenbelt has nearly 13 miles of free trails through cedar and oak woodland. The hike to Sculpture Falls from the Barton Hills access point is about 3 miles round trip and is the most rewarding spring break hike available in Austin for families with older kids.
The Details
- Location: Multiple access points throughout South and West Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Active families, a genuinely beautiful free spring break hike
- Best Trail: Barton Hills Drive access point to Sculpture Falls, about 3 miles round trip
#4 Inner Space Cavern — Best Spring Break Attraction Near Austin
Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown is one of the most genuinely extraordinary natural attractions in all of Central Texas and the best spring break day trip available from Austin for families who want something genuinely different from the standard outdoor activities.
The cavern was discovered in 1963 during construction of Interstate 35 when highway workers drilling into the limestone discovered a cave system with nearly five miles of passageways. The temperature inside stays at a constant 72 degrees, making it a genuinely welcome cool retreat even on a warm spring day.
Georgetown is about 30 minutes north of Austin. Combining Inner Space Cavern with a walk around the Georgetown Town Square, Blue Hole Park, and a stop at the Georgetown Palace Theatre makes it the most complete and most genuinely extraordinary spring break day trip available from Austin.
The Details
- Address: 4200 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Georgetown TX 78626
- Cost: From $18 per adult
- Website: innerspace.com
- Best For: Families of all ages, geology enthusiasts, a genuinely extraordinary spring break day trip
#5 The Thinkery — Best Spring Break Museum for Young Kids
The Thinkery is Austin’s most beloved children’s museum and one of the most genuinely engaging and most thoroughly enjoyable spring break activities available for families with young children. The hands-on STEAM exhibits, creative play areas, water and light exploration zones, and art spaces consistently produce the most enthusiastic and most genuinely happy version of young children that Austin families ever see.
The Thinkery runs special spring break programming throughout the week of March 15 to 19 with extended hours and themed activities. It is the strongest rainy-day option available on spring break and the best indoor activity in Austin for kids ages 1 to 10.
The Details
- Address: 1830 Simond Ave, Austin TX 78723
- Cost: $14 adults, $10 children ages 2 to 17, free for children under 2
- Website: thinkeryaustin.org
- Best For: Families with children ages 1 to 10, the best spring break museum experience in Austin
#6 Bullock Texas State History Museum — Best Spring Break History Experience
The Bullock Texas State History Museum on Congress Avenue is one of the most genuinely excellent and most consistently entertaining history museums in the American South. The three-floor permanent collection covers the full story of Texas from prehistoric times through the space age with exhibits that genuinely engage kids of every age. The IMAX theatre on the lower level shows rotating films that consistently produce the most genuinely awestruck reactions from young visitors.
The museum runs special spring break programming throughout the week with family-focused activities, themed events, and extended engagement hours. It is one of the best rainy-day options available in Austin during spring break and genuinely excellent even on a sunny day.
The Details
- Address: 1800 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: $13 adults, $9 children, IMAX additional
- Website: thestoryoftexas.com
- Best For: Families with kids of all ages, history enthusiasts, a genuinely world-class Austin museum experience
#7 Lady Bird Lake Kayaking and Paddleboarding — Best On-Water Spring Break Activity
Kayaking or paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake during spring break is one of the most genuinely enjoyable and most photogenic outdoor activities available in downtown Austin. The spring wildflowers are blooming along the shores. The downtown skyline reflects in the calm morning water. And the cool spring temperatures make a morning on the water genuinely comfortable rather than grueling.
Multiple rental companies along the shores of Lady Bird Lake offer spring break group packages. The Rowing Dock, Live Love Paddle, and Texas Rowing Center all serve the spring break crowds with single and tandem kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes.
The Details
- Location: Multiple rental points along Lady Bird Lake, downtown Austin
- Cost: From $15 to $25 per person per hour
- Best For: Active families, the most photogenic spring break water activity in downtown Austin
- Pro Tip: Morning rentals before 11 AM deliver the calmest water and the most beautiful light of the day.
#8 Hill Country Wildflower Road Trip — Most Beautiful Spring Break Day Trip
Mid-March is the very beginning of Texas wildflower season and a Hill Country wildflower road trip during spring break is one of the most genuinely beautiful and most purely Texan spring break experiences available from Austin.
The drive from Austin west on US-290 through Dripping Springs, Johnson City, and Fredericksburg takes you through some of the most spectacularly blooming Hill Country landscape in Texas. Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and primrose begin appearing along the roadsides and in the meadows in mid-March, with peak bloom typically arriving in early to mid-April. A spring break wildflower road trip catches the very beginning of the season when the blooms feel like a genuine discovery.
Stop at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg for a hike up the pink granite dome with 360-degree Hill Country views. Stop at Wildseed Farms just east of Fredericksburg for the most concentrated and most beautifully managed wildflower display available anywhere near Austin during spring break.
The Details
- Best Route: US-290 west from Austin through Dripping Springs, Johnson City, and Fredericksburg
- Enchanted Rock: 16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg TX 78624, about 1.5 hours from Austin
- Wildseed Farms: 100 Legacy Dr, Fredericksburg TX 78624
- Best For: Families who want the most beautiful spring break day trip from Austin
#9 Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony — Best Free Spring Break Evening Activity
The Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony returns from its winter migration in late winter and early spring, with the colony rebuilding through March and into April. By mid-March the colony is producing nightly emergences at sunset that are genuinely extraordinary even at pre-peak numbers.
For families on spring break, the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony at sunset is the most genuinely awe-inspiring free experience Austin delivers. Children who have never seen bats emerge in any number consistently react with the kind of pure wonder that parents remember for years. Check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times.
The Details
- Location: Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Every family on spring break. Build it into the evening.
- Pro Tip: The bats emerge closest to the bridge at the very beginning of the season in March. Position your family directly on the bridge rather than along the trail below for the most dramatic early-season emergence view.
#10 Pioneer Farms — Best Living History Experience for Families
Pioneer Farms is a 90-acre living history museum in Northeast Austin that brings 19th-century Texas history to life with costumed interpreters, heritage breeds of livestock, authentic historic buildings, and hands-on activities for children of all ages. The spring break programming at Pioneer Farms is among the most genuinely engaging and most thoughtfully produced family programming available in Austin.
The Details
- Address: 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr, Austin TX 78754
- Cost: From $8 per person
- Website: pioneerfarms.org
- Best For: Families with children who love hands-on history and outdoor activities
#11 Sweet Eats Fruit Farm Spring Break — Best Family Farm Experience
Sweet Eats Fruit Farm in Georgetown offers a genuinely extraordinary spring break farm experience for families with young children. The farm runs special spring break programming through March with animal encounters, farm activities, and the kind of genuine outdoor farm experience that Austin families make special trips for. Lemurs, kangaroos, toucans, and raptor shows make it one of the most unexpectedly extraordinary family farm experiences available anywhere near Austin.
The Details
- Location: Georgetown area, check sweeteatsfruitfarm.com for current address and spring break hours
- Best For: Families with young children, the most unique and most genuinely extraordinary spring break farm experience near Austin
#12 South Congress Avenue — Best Spring Break Afternoon Walk
A South Congress Avenue afternoon on spring break is one of the most genuinely Austin and most thoroughly enjoyable family experiences available without spending much money. Walk south from the I Love You So Much mural at Jo’s Coffee past the boutiques, food trucks, murals, and restaurants that make South Congress one of the most iconic streets in the American South.
The Details
- Location: South Congress Ave, Austin TX
- Cost: Free to walk, individual shops and restaurants priced separately
- Must Stops: Jo’s Coffee for the I Love You So Much mural, Allen’s Boots for the most Texas photo on the street, Güero’s Taco Bar for the best SoCo lunch, Amy’s Ice Creams for the classic Austin dessert stop
Spring Break 2027 Austin Itinerary
Here is how to build the ideal Austin Spring Break 2027 week.
Saturday March 13 or Sunday March 14: Arrive in Austin. Check into your Airbnb or hotel. Walk South Congress Avenue. Güero’s Taco Bar for dinner. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset.
Monday March 15: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. This is the anchor activity of the whole week. Book your afternoon slot now at laketraviszipline.com. Barton Springs Pool in the morning before the tour.
Tuesday March 16: Inner Space Cavern day trip to Georgetown. Blue Hole Park in Georgetown for a spring swim. Lighting of the Georgetown Square walk in the evening.
Wednesday March 17: Thinkery children’s museum in the morning. Lady Bird Lake kayaking in the afternoon. Bullock Texas State History Museum IMAX in the evening.
Thursday March 18: Hill Country wildflower road trip on US-290 through Dripping Springs to Fredericksburg. Enchanted Rock hike. Wildseed Farms wildflower fields. Dinner on Fredericksburg’s Main Street before heading back to Austin.
Friday March 19: Barton Creek Greenbelt hike to Sculpture Falls in the morning. Pioneer Farms in the afternoon. Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset to close out spring break.
Where to Stay for Spring Break in Austin
A private Airbnb house near South Congress or Zilker Park is the best spring break accommodation for families. Pool access is not critical in mid-March but outdoor space, a grill, and a kitchen for family meals significantly reduce the cost and complexity of a spring break week.
For hotels, the South Congress Hotel puts your family in walking distance of Barton Springs, the Greenbelt, and the best South Austin dining. The JW Marriott downtown puts your family within easy reach of Lady Bird Lake kayaking, the Bullock Museum, and Congress Avenue. The Omni Barton Creek Resort offers the most complete on-site spring break family experience with golf, pools, and spa.
Book Spring Break Now — Do Not Wait
Spring break 2027 is March 15 to 19 and it is the single busiest week of the entire spring season for outdoor activities in Austin. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures afternoon slots sell out weeks in advance for spring break. Inner Space Cavern fills up fast on spring break weekday mornings. The Thinkery spring break programming books out early.
Book your Lake Travis Zipline Adventures spring break afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com. Do not wait until March. The best spring break dates sell out months in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions — Spring Break 2027 Austin
When is spring break 2027 in Austin TX?
Spring break 2027 in Austin runs March 15 to 19, 2027 for Austin ISD, Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, Georgetown ISD, Lake Travis ISD, and virtually every other Austin-area school district. UT Austin spring break runs March 15 to 20, 2027. Nearly all Austin-area districts use the same spring break week, so the whole city is off simultaneously.
What is the best thing to do in Austin for spring break with kids?
The best thing to do in Austin for spring break with kids is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Your family boards a boat to an island on Lake Travis about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin and spends three hours on five world-class ziplines including the Double Barrel Shotgun at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. After the tour your family gets full-day access to the lakefront property. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book spring break afternoon slots now at laketraviszipline.com before March dates sell out.
What is the weather like in Austin during spring break in March?
Austin spring break weather in mid-March is genuinely excellent. Average highs run in the mid-70s with lows in the mid-50s. Sunny days are common and outdoor activities are comfortable all day. Occasional spring rain is possible but rarely disrupts a full spring break week. It is significantly cooler and significantly more comfortable than summer Austin and genuinely one of the best weather windows of the entire year.
How far in advance should I book spring break activities in Austin?
Book as early as possible. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures spring break afternoon slots sell out weeks in advance. The earlier you book, the more choice you have on dates and times. Book now at laketraviszipline.com. Inner Space Cavern and the Thinkery fill up on spring break weekday mornings but are more accessible walk-up options.
Is Austin a good spring break destination for families?
Yes. Austin is one of the best spring break destinations for families in the entire country. Perfect mid-March weather, world-class outdoor adventures on Lake Travis, free swimming at Barton Springs, excellent museums, Hill Country wildflower day trips, live music, and a city culture that genuinely celebrates family life make it one of the most complete and most genuinely enjoyable spring break cities available for Texas families.
Spring Break 2027 Starts Here
Austin spring break is genuinely extraordinary. Perfect weather. Lake Travis at the start of its most beautiful season. Hill Country wildflowers beginning to bloom. Barton Springs at its most peaceful. And the best outdoor adventure in Central Texas waiting for your family on Zip Island.
Start planning now and start by booking the activity that sells out first. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and secure your spring break afternoon slot before March 2027 fills up.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Family Friendly Activities in Austin TX, Best Things to Do on Lake Travis, and Best Things to Do in Austin TX.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.